Barrio Escalante, San José

Visits by appointment only

Bailarina, by Leda Astorga. The dense weight of concrete directly defies the lightness demanded by classical dance.
1 photo · 1 video

Leda Astorga

BailarinaInquire about availability

Year
2023
Technique
Oil-Painted Concrete
Dimensions
34 × 26 × 20 cm
Status
Inquire about availability
Palette
warm flesh, candy pink, aged gold, silver gray, forest green
Brushwork
Thin layers of oil paint over the granular porosity of the concrete, with fine-brush details on the face and applied sparkles on the clothing

Curatorial analysis

The dense weight of concrete directly defies the lightness demanded by classical dance. In this figure, volume asserts itself unapologetically; rounded hips, compact thighs, and fleshly folds occupy three-dimensional space with an almost monumental presence, despite standing just thirty-four centimeters tall. Yet the fundamental tension lies not in physical mass, but in the serenity with which that mass rises. The posture replicates the discipline of ballet with admirable rigor, featuring the right arm curved in an impeccable fifth position, the chin tilted upward in theatrical pride, and feet brought together in golden pointe shoes that concentrate the entire force of gravity upon a minimal pedestal.

Oil paint applied over the cast material's rough surface transforms the stone's heaviness into living matter. Astorga works the flesh tones through warm glazes that soften contours, granting the skin an almost cushioned, tactile texture. In contrast, the costume embraces a celebratory theatricality: the silver corset cinches the torso with metallic reflections, while the pink tutu, bordered in gold and flecked with subtle shimmer, evokes the fantasy of stage performance. A nearly devotional minuteness marks the facial details, from the defined eyelashes to the red lips and the delicate gold necklace suggested against the collarbone, elements that emphasize the character's coquetry over any purely grotesque reading.

This contradiction between unyielding material and choreographic grace broadens the possibilities of aesthetic convention. The dancer does not parody the discipline; she embodies it through a generous body that transcends traditional standards of fragility to celebrate the sheer joy of suspended movement. The solidity of concrete dissolves into a festive resonance where flesh, transformed into sculpture, sustains its own flight with complete and radiant dignity.

Bailarina

More works by Leda Astorga

15 works

Available works

Inquire about availability

View all 15 works by Leda Astorga

Similar works

By subject, palette and style

Message the gallery on WhatsApp

Cookies

We use cookies to learn how the site is used and to show the gallery's ads on other platforms. They are only turned on if you accept them.